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SENIOR LIFESTYLES: DeLand couple shares magic of 72 years together

MIMI PACIFICOCORRESPONDENT

Published: Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, December 26, 2012 at 4:46 p.m.

Seldom does one find a family where apparently all decisions and circumstances follow a textbook pattern of the ideal. The lives of Douglas and Ruth Thomas of DeLand may very likely be one of those rare examples.

The couple met as teens through a sister and was married Sept. 1, 1940.

Doug Thomas began his career in 1941 as a firefighter at the Washington Navy Yard, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1941and saw action in the Pacific Theatre on Iwo Jima.

The family lived in Takoma Park, Md., where daughter Vickie was born in 1942.

After the war, Thomas returned to the fire department at the Anacostia Naval Air Station and was promoted to assistant chief. In 1963 he was appointed fire chief of the Consolidated Navy fire department and served in that capacity until 1966.

When the position of fire marshal program administrator was established, Thomas was assigned that post, where he served until his retirement in 1976. He has lifetime memberships in the DAV and VFW and is a charter member of the U. S. Navy and Marine Fire Prevention Association.

The Thomases re-located to DeLand in 1977 after his retirement. The walls of one room in their home are lined with his helmet and various honors he received during his career. The walls of another room contain awards Ruth Thomas received for her volunteering.

"I was a Girl Scout leader of all troops, Brownies through Seniors," Ruth said. "I even started a troop for mentally challenged girls." She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and the Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims. She served as First Vice President of the Florida State Society of the Dames.

Ruth Thomas was pictured in the "AARP News Bulletin," November 1977, recognizing her 1,000 hours of volunteer service at the Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C.

"Doug and I worked together on our volunteer activities," she said. One of those was Veterans Outreach, working with homeless veterans.

"I met Barbara Bush when she came to Stetson to honor volunteers. She extended her arms to me and I immediately rushed up to hug her. The Secret Service was all over me."

As a project of the DAR, the Thomases searched the DeLand cemeteries for members of the organization and placed NSDAR markers on more than 125 graves.

Even though Ruth Thomas said she never worked for pay, she recalls two exceptions. She volunteered at the school cafeteria where daughter Vickie went to school. When one of the paid employees left, the position was open to Ruth.

"I was paid 25 cents an hour over my six years in that capacity," she said. "Through the Girl Scouts I was hired as a monitor for a teenage clubhouse. For the pay I received for those two little jobs, I was eligible for Social Security." The Thomases are lucky to have as their professional caregiver: Rennae Bludsworth, a niece who lives nearby. Bludsworth spent 20 years in the Navy and retired as a Chief Petty Officer.

"Rennae was an administrator of her unit taking care of the medical, financial and personnel records of the service personnel," said cousin Jim Hampshire. "We are so lucky to have her as our grandparents' caregiver and legal guardian." "I love taking care of Grandma and Grandpa," said Bludsworth.

"Nothing is more important than family," said Grandpa Doug.

"It was never 'I' or 'me,' always 'us,'" said Grandma Ruth. "My philosophy is like the doctors': do no harm and then see what good you can do."

<p>Seldom does one find a family where apparently all decisions and circumstances follow a textbook pattern of the ideal. The lives of Douglas and Ruth Thomas of DeLand may very likely be one of those rare examples. </p><p>The couple met as teens through a sister and was married Sept. 1, 1940. </p><p>Doug Thomas began his career in 1941 as a firefighter at the Washington Navy Yard, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1941and saw action in the Pacific Theatre on Iwo Jima. </p><p>The family lived in Takoma Park, Md., where daughter Vickie was born in 1942. </p><p>After the war, Thomas returned to the fire department at the Anacostia Naval Air Station and was promoted to assistant chief. In 1963 he was appointed fire chief of the Consolidated Navy fire department and served in that capacity until 1966. </p><p>When the position of fire marshal program administrator was established, Thomas was assigned that post, where he served until his retirement in 1976. He has lifetime memberships in the DAV and VFW and is a charter member of the U. S. Navy and Marine Fire Prevention Association. </p><p>The Thomases re-located to DeLand in 1977 after his retirement. The walls of one room in their home are lined with his helmet and various honors he received during his career. The walls of another room contain awards Ruth Thomas received for her volunteering. </p><p>"I was a Girl Scout leader of all troops, Brownies through Seniors," Ruth said. "I even started a troop for mentally challenged girls." She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and the Sons and Daughters of Pilgrims. She served as First Vice President of the Florida State Society of the Dames. </p><p>Ruth Thomas was pictured in the "AARP News Bulletin," November 1977, recognizing her 1,000 hours of volunteer service at the Veterans Hospital in Washington, D.C. </p><p>"Doug and I worked together on our volunteer activities," she said. One of those was Veterans Outreach, working with homeless veterans. </p><p>"I met Barbara Bush when she came to Stetson to honor volunteers. She extended her arms to me and I immediately rushed up to hug her. The Secret Service was all over me." </p><p>As a project of the DAR, the Thomases searched the DeLand cemeteries for members of the organization and placed NSDAR markers on more than 125 graves. </p><p>Even though Ruth Thomas said she never worked for pay, she recalls two exceptions. She volunteered at the school cafeteria where daughter Vickie went to school. When one of the paid employees left, the position was open to Ruth. </p><p>"I was paid 25 cents an hour over my six years in that capacity," she said. "Through the Girl Scouts I was hired as a monitor for a teenage clubhouse. For the pay I received for those two little jobs, I was eligible for Social Security." The Thomases are lucky to have as their professional caregiver: Rennae Bludsworth, a niece who lives nearby. Bludsworth spent 20 years in the Navy and retired as a Chief Petty Officer. </p><p>"Rennae was an administrator of her unit taking care of the medical, financial and personnel records of the service personnel," said cousin Jim Hampshire. "We are so lucky to have her as our grandparents' caregiver and legal guardian." "I love taking care of Grandma and Grandpa," said Bludsworth. </p><p>"Nothing is more important than family," said Grandpa Doug. </p><p>"It was never 'I' or 'me,' always 'us,'" said Grandma Ruth. "My philosophy is like the doctors': do no harm and then see what good you can do."</p>